How Long is Considered a Month

Englishteacher1 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 01:54 PM

We have many definitions of a month. A lunar cycle is about 28 days. Some calendar months have 30 days and some have 31. For monthly contact lenses, how long is a "month"?

jessje · #2 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008, 11:33 AM

30 times wearing them, so if you wear them every day it's a 30 day month, if you skip a couple of days you could add that to your month

Raphael · #3 (**permalink**) 11-20-2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessje

30 times wearing them, so if you wear them every day it's a 30 day month, if you skip a couple of days you could add that to your month

NO. Monthly contact lenses have an expiry date of +,- 7 days grace for you to change.

The time starts when you first open the lenses from the package. After 30 days, no matter you wear it or not you have to dispose it of.

okoboji · #4 (**permalink**) 12-05-2008, 09:48 AM

Has anyone ever gone past 30 days? What happens, does it damage your eyes?
Thanks.

Englishteacher1 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-03-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okoboji

Has anyone ever gone past 30 days? What happens, does it damage your eyes?
Thanks.

If you go past 30 days, there are many things that can go wrong, including an infection from an overused contact lens becoming contaminated. Here's what I found on a website from the University of Iowa:

"Contact Lens Overwear . . . occurs when the contact is worn longer than the cornea can tolerate. Not enough oxygen gets to the cornea resulting in temporary discomfort and blurred vision. The treatment is to discontinue wearing the contact lenses for a few days."

Further on: "Corneal abrasion . . . is a "scratch" on the surface of the cornea resulting from a poorly-fitting contact lens, foreign material under the contact lens or overwear. The treatments include antibiotics and possible patching of the eye. Infection may result from this condition."

Finally: "Corneal ulcer . . . is the most severe complication of contact lenses and is more often seen with extended wear soft lenses. In this condition, trauma or contamination to the cornea from the contact lens results in an infection. This sometimes requires hospitalization for treatment and can lead to extensive corneal scarring. Corneal transplant surgery may be required to regain good vision. Although very rare, it is possible that a patient could lose an eye from a severe corneal ulcer." http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/med/ophthalmology/contactlens/handlinglenses/complications.html

kyles414 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-08-2009, 01:56 AM

I think one month should compose of thirty days. If I would buy a monthly contact lens, how many times do I have to clean it? Do I have to do it twice a day or every other day? I just want to know some information.

BoSoxFan · #7 (**permalink**) 09-08-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raphael

NO. Monthly contact lenses have an expiry date of +,- 7 days grace for you to change.

The time starts when you first open the lenses from the package. After 30 days, no matter you wear it or not you have to dispose it of.

I've never heard of this "grace period," Raphael. Where did you hear it from?

Englishteacher1 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoSoxFan

I've never heard of this "grace period," Raphael. Where did you hear it from?

Yes, I'd like to know about this, too. I've always heard that monthly contacts can be worn 30 times, but I've also heard that once you open a blister containing a contact lens, that lens will "expire" in 30 days. I don't know who to believe.

Slade · #9 (**permalink**) 12-04-2009, 08:02 PM

What about opening the package containing the contacts lens and then you seldom use it within a month, e.g. 10 or less times use, will it still be useable after the expected usage duration of just throw it away? I happen to ask a friend of mine who wore contacts for five years now and he told me if the contacts is rarely used within a month, an additional extended day can be used. I'm also confused. Can anyone clarify this?

My answer to my question:
Ok, I was browsing through the forum and found out this interesting topic "If You Don't Stop You'll Go Blind" and all the information I needed is there. So to answer my question, Do Not use it beyond the expiry date.

jpeg4 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Englishteacher1

If you go past 30 days, there are many things that can go wrong, including an infection from an overused contact lens becoming contaminated. Here's what I found on a website from the University of Iowa:

"Contact Lens Overwear . . . occurs when the contact is worn longer than the cornea can tolerate. Not enough oxygen gets to the cornea resulting in temporary discomfort and blurred vision. The treatment is to discontinue wearing the contact lenses for a few days."

Further on: "Corneal abrasion . . . is a "scratch" on the surface of the cornea resulting from a poorly-fitting contact lens, foreign material under the contact lens or overwear. The treatments include antibiotics and possible patching of the eye. Infection may result from this condition."

Finally: "Corneal ulcer . . . is the most severe complication of contact lenses and is more often seen with extended wear soft lenses. In this condition, trauma or contamination to the cornea from the contact lens results in an infection. This sometimes requires hospitalization for treatment and can lead to extensive corneal scarring. Corneal transplant surgery may be required to regain good vision. Although very rare, it is possible that a patient could lose an eye from a severe corneal ulcer." http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/med/ophthalmology/contactlens/handlinglenses/complications.html

Wow talk about misquoting... The whole article talked about general contacts complications that can happen to anyone. The first quote talked about wearing a contacts too long but did not saying anything about wearing expired contacts.

The second quote talked about poorly fitted contacts and the last one extended wear of contacts but still nothing about expired contacts.

thecure · #11 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpeg4

Wow talk about misquoting... The whole article talked about general contacts complications that can happen to anyone. The first quote talked about wearing a contacts too long but did not saying anything about wearing expired contacts.

The second quote talked about poorly fitted contacts and the last one extended wear of contacts but still nothing about expired contacts.

Wow, you'd think someone called "Englishteacher1" would know how to quote sources correctly.

I see quotation marks, and I also see ellipses ( . . . ) that indicate some material was left out. Can you fill in the blanks jpeg4, and show us how the original article is different from what was quoted?

Knotlob · #12 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyles414

I think one month should compose of thirty days. If I would buy a monthly contact lens, how many times do I have to clean it? Do I have to do it twice a day or every other day? I just want to know some information.

Personally, I think it should be the number of times you wear the lens, i.e. 30 times. However, I think this may be a moot point amongst eye care professionals and I will try to remember to ask my optician next week for her opinion. She is sensible and practical.

Logically deposit build up, wear and tear on the lens, etc. will be a function of how many times you wear the lens, not how many days there are in a calendar month. However, if you do change the lens at the same date in each month, then you run less risk of wearing the lenses too many times (i.e. more than 31 days).

Proper cleaning and disinfection will take care of the infection risk.

I wear Biofinity monthly lenses and disinfect/clean them every night when I take them out. I use a 2 step peroxide system and neutralise just before I put the lenses back into my eyes (20 mins before or so).

I seldom take my lenses out and then put them back in during the same day. However, I would think it is sensible to clean them before putting them back in the same day. Peroxide systems are going to be difficult, but if you use a Multi Purpose Disinfecting solution, then it's easier.

knotlob

BoSoxFan · #13 (**permalink**) 02-10-2010, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpeg4

Wow talk about misquoting... The whole article talked about general contacts complications that can happen to anyone. The first quote talked about wearing a contacts too long but did not saying anything about wearing expired contacts.

The second quote talked about poorly fitted contacts and the last one extended wear of contacts but still nothing about expired contacts.

I just thought I'd come to Englishteacher's defense a little bit.

The second quote says "Corneal abrasion . . . is a 'scratch' on the surface of the cornea resulting from a poorly-fitting contact lens, foreign material under the contact lens or overwear."

Jpeg4, what is your take on the "30 days" debate? Does it mean 30 days after you break the seal on the package, or 30 times of putting the contacts in and taking them out?

Englishteacher1 · #14 (**permalink**) 02-10-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoSoxFan

I just thought I'd come to Englishteacher's defense a little bit.

The second quote says "Corneal abrasion . . . is a 'scratch' on the surface of the cornea resulting from a poorly-fitting contact lens, foreign material under the contact lens or overwear."

Thanks for your help, BoSoxFan. That was nice of you.

Jpeg4 has a point about the first quote. I suppose "overwear" can mean wearing monthly disposable contact lenses for more than a month before throwing them away, or it can mean wearing a pair for several days without taking them out for cleaning when they need to be.